Eric Tarr

TARR, Eric G., M.D., Anesthesiologist, Artist, Yachtsman, Movie Producer and Adventurer, lost a long and brave battle with malignant melanoma, passing away in his Balboa Island home, December 26, 2010.

He was born in Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa, November 18, 1930 to Reverend A. Floyd and Edna Mae Tarr who pre-deceased him.

He was a professional photographer and movie maker with a B.A. degree in photography from Art Center School of Design and an M.A. in motion pictures from the University of Southern California Film School.

He was educated in South Africa and India and then Graduated from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 1958 and specialized in anesthesiology practicing at Hoag Memorial Hospital, Newport Beach.

He produced and filmed documentaries widely used to recruit occupational therapists and dietitians to the professional schools of Loma Linda University and a documentary about mission service in Nigeria, Africa for the Seventh-Day Adventists Denomination.

He retired from medicine in 1980 and devoted himself to international sailing, travel and real estate development.

As a yachtsman he sailed his 55 foot cutter-rigged “Quintessence” from Balboa to Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand and South Africa circumnavigating the globe and ending in Florida concluding a 68,000 mile odyssey. He sailed his converted Dutch fishing boat “Trotse Pauw” in the Mediterranean and his Bennetau Sailboat “Nepenthe” in the Carribean. He motored and sailed his 55 foot Dutch barge “Vrouwe Wilhelmina” on French and Dutch Canals. He was an accomplished pilot holding air balloon, glider and commercial multi-engine airplane certificates.

Shortly prior to his death with great courage and endurance he climbed to the top of the Portola Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.He is survived by: wife Judy Tarr; son Derek (Sandra) Tarr; grandchildren, Ian and Gavin Tarr; stepchildren Eddie (Jan) Peterson and Holly (Luis) Orozco; stepgrandchildren Willie and Kathryn Peterson and Samuel and Simon Orozco; and brother John (Beverly) Tarr.

A devoted and passionate lover of wife Judy and family he is remembered as a dedicated physician, explorer, real estate developer, bon vivant who lived adventurously and buoyantly, and as a committed and loyal Christian.